I believe
leadership is about service as does Attawapiskat First Nation’s Chief Theresa
Spence. I am inspired by her hunger strike, her willingness to suffer for her
people. As Assembly of First Nations national
Chief Shawn Atleo said in his December 16 open letter, Chief Spence's hunger
strike calls attention to "the dire conditions which many First Nations
communities and peoples face," and protests "the disrespect and
shameful treatment of First Nations by the Government of Canada."

I urge you to meet immediately
with Chief Spence, servant-to-servant, nation-to-nation.

I
echo the letter sent by the United Church of Canada:

We urge you to hear, as we do, the pain and
determination that underlie Chief Spence's actions, and her statement that
"I'm willing to die for my people because the pain is too much and it's
time for the government to realize what (it's) doing to us." Her pain is
shared by many Indigenous and their leaders, and by many, many non-Aboriginal
Canadians who wish to end the legacy of colonization, inequality and abuse, and
live in justice and right relations between mainstream Canada and the First Peoples.

We state clearly and unequivocally that we stand in solidarity with Chief Spence's
statement that "Canada is violating the right of Aboriginal peoples to be
self-determining and continues to ignore (their) constitutionally protected
Aboriginal and treaty rights in their lands, waters, and resources."